The UK government is set to revisit its commitment to curtail the illegal smuggling of puppies and kittens into the country in a bid to provide long-awaited regulation. The new bill to be tabled this week would prohibit the importing of dogs and cats under the age of six months. It also aims to clamp down on smuggling heavily pregnant animals while setting a limit on the number of pets people can travel with. The ban would also cover transporting animals with illegal mutilations such as ear-cropping. Although legislation to this effect was supposed to be implemented in 2021, the government has yet to follow through.
According to the BBC, the RSPCA is supporting the new measures, which aim to stop the exploitation of animals for profiteering purposes, but some animals’ rescue groups believe the six-month age limit could put vulnerable puppies at risk. Amy Ockelford from RSPCA explains that raising the minimum age of imported puppies and kittens is to protect them from being separated from their mothers too early and being exposed to disease and behavioural issues. She further notes that this will invariably reduce unscrupulous traders whose primary target is young and vulnerable animals.
However, some animal welfare organisations, like the Responsible Dog Rescue in Southport that rescues dogs from Romania, are challenging the six-month age limit, citing harsh winter weather conditions and the prevalence of deadly diseases such as parvovirus in public dog shelters. Raising the age restriction unduly risks the lives of the very animals the new bill aims to protect.
While government figures estimate that 116 young puppies and kittens were quarantined at the Dover Port for falling below the current minimum importation age in 2023, the Dogs Trust reportedly rescued over 3,000 dogs associated with illegal imports between 2015 and 2023. Although Labour is likely to support the new legislation, some have accused the government of reneging on its 2019 pledge to end puppy smuggling. The new bill will be debated in parliament on Friday
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